Man Released After Acquittal In Clairton Police Shooting Trial

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — There was a celebration outside the Allegheny County Jail after a 19-year-old man from Rankin who was charged with attempted homicide was found not guilty.

Marcus Andrejco got out of jail just after 10 p.m. Thursday. Friends and family members were waiting outside for him with a cake.

“Yeah, I want to say something. All the months I gave back, y’all finally found the truth out now, that’s crazy,” he said to KDKA-TV’s Ralph Iannotti. “The way I got cheated, I never thought I was coming home. Never. But, now the truth’s out … I don’t [have any] more words.”

A jury acquitted him and Emilio Rivera of McKees Rocks in the shooting of Clairton Police Officer James Kuzak.

“I’m just glad it finally came to a close,” Jaime Andrejco, Marcus’ mother, said. “And I really wanted everyone to know that he’s truly innocent.”

Rivera remains in custody after he was convicted on charges including robbery and burglary in connection to home invasion that led to the shooting.

In Clairton, there was a sense of shock and disbelief. Kevin Schley said he was surprised by the verdict and didn’t expect it with all the evidence police had.

Another Clairton resident Leslie Ledonne said when she heard the verdict she was shocked because she thought it was an open and shut case.

Ralph Iannotti began working as a KDKA-TV general assignment reporter in 1982. You can watch for his reports weeknights on KDKA-TV News at Eleven.
Ralph is an investigative reporter and produces a weekly segment called "Crime Stoppers" in...